A "PREMIER league" heroin dealer who used empty shops to ply his "sophisticated and wicked trade" has been jailed for six years.

Anthony Dewhurst, of Giles Street, Nelson, ran two drugs retail shops in Nelson for more than two years before he was arrested.

So much cash was made that profits paid for sports cars, holidays, Armani suits and were even put towards buying Harle Syke sub post office for money laundering.

The 28-year-old heroin addict lived in spartan conditions at the back of the shop in Leeds Road where a hatch was installed for the sale of drugs.

Up to 40 people a day, some with young children, were seen going to the shop, spending up to £60 a time on heroin.

Police counted 1,400 calls to Dewhurst's mobile from addicts arranging a visit to buy their fix.

In August 1998 Dewhurst moved to Russell Street, Nelson, where he continued dealing. During one 14 day period 400 people visited the shop.

Sentencing Dewhurst at Preston Crown Court, Judge Edward Slinger told him he had been a major and willing player in the drugs gang and "if involved in the premier league with premier league rewards there were premier league sentences."

Three other members of the gang, Azizul Wahab, 31, of Clive Street, Burnley; Joseph Cromer, 29, of Cleethorpes, and Roy Crossley, 21, of Albion Road, Nelson, were last month jailed for a total of 25 years. All were found guilty after a trial. Dewhurst escaped sentence that day after breaking his bail and going on the run. He was sentenced to one month for that offence. He had already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin, for which he was sentenced to six years.

Tony Cross, defending, said Dewhurst was merely an "employee" in the gang and hadn't made huge profits for himself, instead being paid in heroin to feed his addiction which cost £40-50 a day.

Judge Slinger said: "You took a substantial part in an organisation to supply a very dangerous drug. You yourself have been a heroin addict and you know the damage that it causes.

"A good deal of crime is surrounded by the use of heroin to fund crime and in relation to crimes committed while people are under the influence. Nonetheless, you took an active and willing part in this conspiracy to supply drugs.

"This was a sophisticated operation that involved altering a shop premises in which you continued this wicked trade."

After the case the detective who led the four month stake out of the two shops in Nelson, Det Sgt Steve Mounsey of Burnley CID said: "This was an appropriate sentence in relation to hisn part in this conspiracy. We are delighted with the length of the sentence and those given to the others in the gang, they reflect a very successful police operation."